Browse Category: DailyCaring

Simple home test detects signs of early Alzheimer’sIf you suspect that your older adult is having problems with memory, thinking, or judgement, you may want them to take the SAGE test for dementia. This at-home pen-and-paper test is free, takes just 15 minutes, and accurately identifies early symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

And if the stress and exhaustion of caregiving are making you feel like your brain isn’t working anymore, this quick test can reassure you that there’s no problem with your cognitive function.

Why get an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis?Alzheimer’s and dementia are incurable conditions so it might seem useless to get diagnosed. Many people would just rather not know. But an early Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis has significant benefits. The most important is that a treatable condition could be the cause of cognitive impairment. Finding out sooner means getting treatment ASAP to eliminate the cognitive symptoms.

If the cognitive impairment is caused by Alzheimer’s or dementia, a major benefit is that starting treatments early is far more effective in managing symptoms and delaying progression of the disease.

How the SAGE test for dementia worksSAGE stands for Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination and was developed by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The SAGE test has 12 questions that cover all aspects of cognition, including memory, problem solving, and language. Continue Reading

Bathroom safety is a top issue for seniorsDid you know that people use the toilet 7 times a day on average? That’s why bathroom safety for seniors is so important — they’re in there all the time!

Balance issues, weakness, frailty, and cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s can make that simple activity difficult and even dangerous. As challenging as using the toilet might be, it’s also important to help them preserve as much dignity and independence as possible. Simple tips and modifications can make going to the bathroom safer, easier, and less tiring.

Why bathrooms are dangerousBathrooms are dangerous because they are small spaces with lots of hard surfaces and corners. On top of that, sitting down and standing up can cause dizziness or unsteady balance for seniors because of blood pressure changes. That could easily lead to a devastating fall.

4 simple bathroom safety tips for seniors

Clear the path to the bathroom and make sure it’s well-lit day
and night

Remove clutter or objects along the path.

Add automatic nightlights or stick-on lights.

Remove any rugs or floor mats. It’s easy to trip or slip on them.

If the bathroom door has a raised threshold (on the floor), get your older adult in the habit of sidestepping over it — that reduces the chance of tripping.

A common cause of senior nighttime wakingWaking up because your senior needs help at night is exhausting and frustrating. We’ve discussed possible reasons for senior sleep issues before. Here, we’ll focus on one common cause of nighttime waking, leg cramps.

What are nighttime leg cramps?Nighttime leg cramps are when muscles suddenly tighten up. This is common in calf, thigh, or foot muscles. It’s very painful and can jolt somebody out of a sound sleep. Another term for leg cramps is “charley horse.”

How do I know if it’s happening?When your senior wakes, calmly ask what woke them up. You may need to wait patiently for them to think before answering. Don’t distract them by being annoyed or angry — they might forget the real reason.

If your older adult can’t communicate what’s wrong, an obvious sign is if they look like they’re in pain and they grab, point, or massage a certain part of their leg. Another sign is if they can’t successfully stand until their leg muscles are able to relax. You may even be able to see or feel a super-tight muscle.

What can I do during the night?Here’s how to soothe a leg cramp so your senior can relax and go back to sleep.Continue Reading

Driving is a sensitive subject for seniorsIn a recent article, USA Today tackled the difficult subject of asking your parents to give up driving. Many caregivers say this is one of the hardest conversations to have.

Why seniors won’t give up drivingMany older adults absolutely refuse to give up their car keys, even if they’ve had a string of accidents or close calls. They resist because not driving means losing their independence. It also means admitting that they’re getting old and becoming less capable.

Imagine how it would feel to have to ask for a ride to go anywhere and being at the mercy of other people’s schedules. After a lifetime of independence, that’s pretty hard to swallow.

Get a fair evaluation before jumping to conclusionsYour senior could be a safer driver than you think. Your senior might have already cut back on travel distance from home or driving at night. It could be a good idea to get a fair evaluation of their driving abilities before asking for the keys. AAA has a website with tools and resources for evaluating an older person’s driving ability.

Caregivers need to offer alternatives to drivingKeep in mind, if you ask seniors to give up their keys, they’ll still need to get around. Continuing to participate in the community is an important part of preventing the negative health effects of social isolation.

Tips for successful conversations about giving up drivingBefore you have a conversation about giving up driving, think of a few different ways you could approach the subject. It’s going to backfire if you try to give an order or ultimatum. Because it’s such an emotional subject, straightforward logic won’t always work either.Continue Reading

Coloring relieves stressColoring may sound like a simple activity, but more and more people are discovering that it’s an effective stress reliever and mood booster. Some psychologists have even said that coloring is a form of meditation.

Creative activities benefit seniorsFor older adults, a research study shows that engaging in creative activities like coloring can improve their health, lead to fewer doctor visits, reduce medication, and decrease the number of health problems.

You can benefit from coloring too! It’s a quick and inexpensive way to help you relax and engage in a fun and creative activity for as much or as little time as you have.

Free coloring pages for seniorsThanks to its recent popularity, there are hundreds of free coloring pages available online. Here are 5 sites with great options for older adults. The coloring pages are easy to print and use anytime!

Everyone needs comfortable shoesTo maintain their health, it’s important for older adults to be as active and mobile as possible. They also need to be stable and safe while on their feet. That’s why comfortable, well-fitting shoes are essential for all seniors. Also, it’s pretty tough to be happy and have good quality of life if your feet hurt all the time!

Many seniors need special shoesAging and health conditions (like diabetes, arthritis, bunions, or swelling) can cause changes in your older adult’s feet. This might make regular shoes difficult to put on or uncomfortable to wear. The solution is to find special shoes that adapt to their needs.

What to look for in adaptive shoesIn general, adaptive shoes for seniors should have:

Non-slip or non-skid soles to help prevent falls

Easy open and close fastener

Wider opening so it’s easy to get feet into shoes

Extra padding for comfort

Adaptive shoe and slipper options

Silvert’sSilvert’s specializes in adaptive clothing and footwear. They have a nice selection of adaptive shoes, slippers, and socks for women and men. They also have an excellent return policy because they know caregivers are usually doing the purchasing for an older adult. See all the footwear at Silvert’s >

Buck & BuckBuck & Buck is another well-known retailer of adaptive clothing and shoes. Their customer service is friendly and helpful and they also have a good return policy.

New technology from NikeNike launched a new type of sneaker that’s inspired by a young man with cerebral palsy. They’re designed to be easy to get on and off with one hand so people with disabilities can put on and take off their shoes independently. The Nike Flyease sneaker line has options for men and women. These are great for people who enjoy wearing athletic shoes, but need assistance to put them on and take them off.

Shoehorns are a big help!Sometimes, bending over to put shoes on is half the battle. These sturdy, long shoehorns make putting on shoes easier and safer.

Support socksBunions can be removed by surgery, but that is not the only solution! There are special shoes, pads, toe separators, arch supports and support socks that provide comfort and relief.

Bottom lineCheck with your older adult to make sure they’re truly comfortable and safe in their current shoes. If not, consider one of these adaptive options or adding a long shoehorn to make life easier.

Take advantage of your holiday visitDuring the holidays, many of us will be visiting aging parents. It’s a perfect time to observe them in their “natural habitat” — you’ll see how they’re really doing. Plus, these tips help you focus on important details that will make a big difference in the long run.

Discreetly check on independent parentsWhen your parents are living independently, the holidays are a great time to discreetly check on them. If you do this every year and keep a few notes, you’ll be able to spot changes more easily in the future.Try our handy printable PDF checklist that helps you evaluate any changes in their physical, mental, and emotional health.

Spend an afternoon on home safety updatesWhile you’re visiting, you might have an opportunity to make a few simple safety updates. These easy fixes don’t take much time and will help your parents avoid common accidents so they can stay independent longer. They don’t take a lot of time, but they’re very effective.

Diabetes can cause health complicationsDiabetes in older adults is associated with increased risk of other serious medical conditions like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and falls.

Today, more than 25% of the US population aged 65 and over have diabetes. The link between diabetes and other serious health issues is a likely reason why so many older adults have multiple health conditions.

Why does diabetes cause other health problems?Diabetes is a disease where the level of glucose in the blood (also called blood sugar) is too high. This can happen when the body doesn’t make enough insulin.

Insulin moves glucose from the blood into the cells of the body. But when there isn’t enough insulin, glucose doesn’t get into the cells and builds up in the blood. This causes symptoms like extreme thirst or hunger, frequent need to urinate, and fatigue.

This can lead to health complications like heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infections, and amputation. People with diabetes are also more likely to have heart disease or a stroke and at an earlier age.

Here, we talk about the 5 most common diabetes complications.

5 common diabetes complications

Heart diseaseHeart diseases are more likely to occur in older adults with diabetes. Talk with the doctor to get prevention tips, learn about symptoms to watch for, and find out about treatment options for someone who has both diabetes and heart diseases.

Alzheimer’s & dementiaAlzheimer’s and dementia are twice as likely to occur in patients with diabetes. If you notice unusual behavior or recurring memory or cognitive problems, visit the doctor for a full evaluation.

Falls & fracturesDiabetes and related conditions that make physical movement more difficult are associated with higher risk of falls and fractures. Stay on top of this by asking their doctor to regularly evaluate your senior’s fall risk.

Multiple medicationsDiabetic older adults often use 6 or more prescription medications. Because so many medicines are being taken, people with diabetes have a higher risk of side effects and drug interactions. Ask the doctor to do a comprehensive medication and supplement review on a regular basis.

Other complicationsDepression, vision or hearing impairment, and incontinence are additional medical conditions that are more likely to occur in people with diabetes. Be aware that these conditions may be related to diabetes and get symptoms checked by a doctor.

Bottom lineThese 5 medical complications are seen at a much higher rate among older adults with diabetes.

If you notice your senior developing new symptoms or see signs of these complications, talk to their doctor ASAP to find out what’s causing the problem. Early detection and treatment can make a big difference in quality of life and treatment options.

People with Alzheimer’s may repeat things…a lotAlzheimer’s disease and other dementias cause problems with short-term memory. This can lead to repetitive behaviors, like asking the same question over and over again.

Your older adult isn’t doing it on purpose to annoy you, they truly have no memory of asking the first or twenty-third time.

You might be able to answer patiently the first few times, but after hearing the same thing a dozen times, it’s natural to lose your temper. That’s why it’s important to arm yourself with kind techniques that stop the flow of questions before you get too frustrated.

Why someone with Alzheimer’s repeats questionsRepetitive behaviors are often caused by stress, anxiety, frustration, or fear. People with Alzheimer’s or dementia are often unsure of what’s happening, where they are, or what time or day it is. Those are pretty unsettling feelings.

4 ways to respond when someone with Alzheimer’s is repeating questions

Respond to the emotions, not the wordsWhen your older adult starts to repeat a question over and over, try to guess what feelings might be causing the behavior. If they might be feeling anxious, giving a brief hug or hand squeeze while calmly answering the question may soothe them enough to stop their need to keep asking.

Keep your answers briefIt’s tempting to answer a question from a person with Alzheimer’s the same way you’d answer anybody else. But the shorter and simpler your answer, the better. It saves you time and energy and reduces your exasperation when you have to repeat it five more times.

Very few people are willing to sit quietly and allow someone else to stick things in their mouth. Think of how you’d react if someone tried to do that to you! They’re not trying to be difficult, it’s human instinct to resist.

Poor dental care leads to unwanted complicationsHowever, if your older adult has Alzheimer’s or dementia and can’t properly brush their own teeth, they’ll need your help. Otherwise, their dental health will suffer and that will lead to unwanted complications.

Aside from the health problems associated with poor dental health, can you imagine having to take your senior with dementia to get a cavity filled or tooth extracted? Nightmare!!

Dementia care expert shows how to brush someone else’s teethTeepa Snow is a leading expert in dementia care. She has impressive credentials and when you watch her videos, you can clearly see why she’s in such high demand as a dementia educator. She really knows what she’s talking about!

In this 2 minute video, Teepa shows how to successfully brush someone else’s teeth by calming and distracting those natural instincts to resist. She demonstrates on an audience volunteer and explains why her techniques work.

Teepa’s 3 key tips for brushing someone’s teethIt’s best to watch this brief video to see Teepa’s techniques in action so you can use them yourself, but here’s a summary of her 3 key tips from the video.Continue Reading

When family doesn’t believe your senior needs helpFamily caregivers are often frustrated by relatives who are in denial about their older adult’s declining health. Whether it’s about Alzheimer’s, fall risk, or post-stroke recovery, their denial can make you feel angry, stressed out, and frustrated.

Why are they in denial?According to the Mayo Clinic, “Denial is a coping mechanism that gives you time to adjust to distressing situations.” Asking someone to change how they see your older adult threatens their whole world. That’s usually why people fall back on denial.

It’s safe and comfortable to pretend that everything is fine and nothing is changing. For some, denial is a subconscious way to ignore the fact that their parent is declining. For others, it’s a way to avoid taking on caregiving responsibilities.

3 ways to deal with family in denial

Stay calm and be the bigger personFamily in denial about seniors needing help are incredibly frustrating. Even if you really don’t want to bite your tongue, it helps to stay calm and be the bigger person.Do your best to be kind and understanding when speaking with someone in denial. Showing anger or being sarcastic will only make them dig their heels in deeper or feel justified in resisting.

Be ready with educational informationSometimes denial comes from not fully understanding the situation. Give them educational information that explains your older adult’s condition, typical symptoms, and the type of care they’ll most likely need.For example, your brother may have no idea how Alzheimer’s or dementia affects people besides the stereotypical memory loss or confusion. So, he takes mom’s side when she insists that she’s still perfectly capable of driving her car.Rather than arguing, show him the doctor’s report stating that she should no longer drive because of her advancing Alzheimer’s condition. And, point him to trusted sources of information about Alzheimer’s and dementia — like Alzheimer’s Association or here on DailyCaring.

Meet together with an expertSome family members may not believe you, but might listen to an impartial expert. Offer to go together to talk with the doctor about your dad’s health and care needs. Or, invite a geriatric care manager, elder mediator, or spiritual leader who understands the situation to attend a family meeting.

Bottom lineIt’s not fair that you have to be the voice of reason on top of everything else, but these 3 techniques will help convince family members that your senior needs caregiving help.

If you can’t break through someone’s denial, you can at least move on and make decisions without their input, knowing you did your best to help them understand.

Flu season is here and seniors and caregivers are vulnerable.Cold and flu season is upon us again. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone should get vaccinated before the end of October, but anytime is better than not getting a shot at all.

Getting a flu shot reduces the chance that you, your older adult, and your family will get sick.

Two of the most vulnerable populations are seniors and caregivers. That’s because older adults’ immune systems are weaker due to age and because chronic stress impairs caregivers’ immune systems. Plus, spending a lot of time with each other means you’re more likely to pass germs back and forth.

We share 4 key reasons why seniors and caregivers should get a flu shot as soon as possible.

Avoid serious health complications for seniorsFor seniors, the flu can be a severe illness and may cause death. 90% of flu-related deaths and more than 50% of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people age 65 and up. The CDC recommends a high-dose shot for seniors.

The shot needs 2 weeks to become effectiveFlu activity starts as early as October. After getting the shot, it takes about 2 weeks for the protective flu antibodies to develop in the body. So, the sooner you and your older adult get the shot, the sooner you’ll have protection against the flu.

Getting a flu shot is quick, convenient, and freeFlu shots are now available in many convenient locations.

But senior dental care isn’t always easy, especially for those with serious health conditions. We’ve got 3 tips that make it easier for older adults to practice good dental hygiene.

3 ways to help seniors keep their mouths healthy

Switch to an electric toothbrushArthritis, hand tremors, or weakness can make it nearly impossible to brush teeth thoroughly. To make it easier, switch to an electric (automatic) toothbrush. Less hand strength and control are needed and it takes the work out of brushing. Some toothbrushes even have built-in timers so there’s no need to guess how long to brush.

Brush or rinse after mealsSeniors tend to have less saliva because of medication side effects and the natural effects of aging. After meals, trapped food particles can quickly become bacteria breeding grounds. Minimize bacteria in your older adult’s mouth by getting them into the habit of brushing (or at least rinsing) about 30 to 60 minutes after eating. Fortunately, that’s most likely when they’ll need to use the toilet anyway.

Change to a salt water rinseUsing salt water to rinse the mouth instead of plain water is a very effective way to improve senior dental health. Just add about a half teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water, stir, and rinse! A salt water rinse increases the pH balance of the mouth. This makes it more difficult for bacteria to grow. It’s less irritating to the mouth than a store-bought mouthwash — and cheaper too!

Bottom lineKeeping your older adult’s mouth healthy is just as important as caring for the rest of their body.

A healthy mouth helps seniors keep more of their natural teeth so it’s easier to eat, reduces the risk of pain and inflammation, and reduces risk of serious conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s can cause busy handsYour older adult with Alzheimer’s or dementia may show anxiety or agitation through fidgety hands. Signs include pulling or rubbing at clothes or bedding, rubbing hands together, tapping fingers, twisting fingers, wringing hands, and generally keeping hands in motion.

Sensory therapy or fidget toys are an effective way to reduce anxiety, calm nerves, and provide comfort. These are simple touch-based activities that help someone with Alzheimer’s keep hands busy in safe, soothing ways.

We have 6 suggestions to help your older adult stay calm and comforted.

Choose safe activitiesIt’s important to find activities that are safe. You know your older adult best and can choose what works best for them.

For example, some older adults tend to put things in their mouth. If that’s the case, avoid small objects that could become a choking hazard. Other seniors may like to tie strings around fingers (or necks!) and restrict circulation. If that’s true for your older adult, avoid anything with long ribbon or string.

DailyCaring tip:For a quick DIY fidget blanket with minimal sewing, start with a fluffy bath towel or large piece of soft fleece and securely sew on a variety of embellishments. Browse the ready-made ones above to get inspiration!

Art therapy activities for dementiaSeniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia benefit from creative activities like art and music. Music reduces agitation and boosts mood. Art projects give a sense of accomplishment and purpose and also allow seniors to express themselves non-verbally.

A specialized type of art therapy for dementia is called MnemeTherapy (pronounced “nemma” therapy). It combines art, song, and movement to stimulate the brain. MnemeTherapy can help older adults who have Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, brain trauma, stroke, MS, or other cognitive issues.

Using this combination of activities is thought to stimulate the brain to adapt and rebuild lost function by reorienting and remapping it. Some seniors who have done MnemeTherapy have shown significant improvement in verbal skills, mobility, and reduced combativeness.

See what a MnemeTherapy session is likeEvelyn is an 89 year old woman with Alzheimer’s disease. The home care agency who takes care of her offers specialized art therapy through their partnership with Paulette, a certified MnemeTherapy instructor. Evelyn enjoys weekly sessions with Paulette and gave us a peek into her experience.

Warm upPaulette visits Evelyn weekly in her home for one hour. They start the session sitting face-to-face. To warm up, Paulette takes Evelyn’s hands and swings them left to right as she leads her in the song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” This activity is intended to stimulate word memory.

Then, she asks Evelyn to “high five” her with one hand and then the other, engaging her in a game of “patty cake.” Next, Paulette holds up two fingers and moves them from left to right asking her how many fingers she’s holding. She then flutters her fingers like a butterfly and asks Evelyn to capture it.

These might sound like random games, but according to MnemeTherapy principles, each session is tailored for the client’s specific cognitive or physical challenges.Continue Reading

Geriatrician explains how dementia is diagnosedDr. Leslie Kernisan, a San Francisco Bay Area geriatrician, is often asked by family members if their older adult has Alzheimer’s or dementia. Because so many people have asked “how is dementia diagnosed?” she wrote an article explaining how doctors typically evaluate someone for dementia.

In the full article, she describes the basic diagnostic tests, what types of information are needed, and how long it will take. Here are the key points from her article.

5 key features of dementiaDr. Kernisan explains the issues that people with dementia will experience.

Difficulty with one or more types of mental function, like learning, memory, language, judgement

Problems that are a change compared to the person’s usual abilities

Problems that make it difficult for them to manage everyday life responsibilities, like work or family

Problems that aren’t caused by another mental disorder, like depression

5 steps doctors take to diagnose dementiaDoctors typically go through 5 areas of evaluation to figure out whether someone has dementia. The doctor needs to check each area and document what they find.

Difficulty with mental functionsUsually evaluated with a combination of an office-based cognitive test and finding out about real-world problems by talking with their patient and people close to them.

Decline from previous level of abilityThis can be harder for a doctor to determine, so they need to talk with people who know their patient well to understand their previous abilities versus what they can do today. For example, if a former accountant can no longer do basic math, that’s a decline from their previous ability.

Impairment of daily life functionThis can also be tough to see right away. The doctor will ask about what types of help the person is getting in their daily life and what problems family members have seen.

Seniors with dementia sometimes say hurtful thingsWhen you’re caring for an older adult with Alzheimer’s or dementia, they might sometimes make mean comments, use hurtful words, or accuse you of terrible (and untrue) things. Of course, this is devastating to hear!

The most important thing to remember is that the disease is causing the behavior. Your senior isn’t saying these things to purposely hurt you.

But trying to keep that in mind while they’re yelling isn’t very helpful. We’ve got 7 tips to help you manage this difficult behavior and reduce the stress and resentment it causes.

Understand why someone with dementia is saying mean thingsFirst, it’s important to understand why this hurtful behavior is happening. Mean comments or hurtful accusations are usually triggered by something in their environment that causes discomfort, pain, fear, anxiety, helplessness, confusion, or frustration.

Dementia is a brain disease that causes parts of the brain to shrink and lose their function. Different parts control different functions like memory, personality, behavior, and speech. Dementia also damages the ability to control impulses, which means actions aren’t intentional.

Even though it’s difficult, do your best to remember that they truly don’t mean the mean things they say. This behavior often happens because they’re unable to express what’s actually bothering them. Accepting that they’re not doing this on purpose reduces your stress and makes the behavior easier to manage.

7 ways to manage mean dementia behavior

Calm the situation downThe first thing to do is bring the tension level down. You can do this by limiting the distractions in the room, like turning off the TV or asking others to leave.If you stay calm, they’re more likely to calm down. It might help to count to 10 or even leave the room for a short time to cool down. Repeat to yourself “it’s the disease” as a reminder that they’re not intentionally doing this.If the current activity seemed to cause the agitation, try shifting to a more pleasant, calming activity. Or, try soft music or a gentle massage.

Comfort and reassure while checking for causes of discomfort or fearTake a deep breath, don’t argue, and use a calm, soothing voice to reassure and comfort your older adult. It also helps to speak slowly and use short, direct sentences. Then, check for possible causes of agitation or fear, like:

Pain or discomfort

Signs of overstimulation

Feeling disturbed by strange surroundings

Being overwhelmed by complicated tasks

Frustration because of the inability to communicate

It also helps to focus on their emotions rather than their specific words or actions. Look for the feelings behind what they’re doing as a way to identify the cause.

Keep track of and avoid possible triggersWhenever difficult behavior comes up, write down what happened, the time, and the date in a dedicated notebook. Also think about what was going on just before the behavior started and write that down as a possible trigger. Having everything in one notebook helps you find possible causes for the behavior.For example, if your notes show that your older adult gets angry and starts calling you names around 4pm on most days, it could be because they haven’t eaten since noon and they’re hungry. They may not realize it or don’t know how to ask for food. To test your theory, try giving them a snack around 3:30pm to see if that helps prevent the outbursts.

Dehydration is dangerous for seniorsDehydration is a common and very serious condition in older adults. Seniors can actually die from being dehydrated!

Dehydration in older adults can cause other major health problems like kidney stones, blood clot complications, passing out, rapid but weak pulse, and lowered blood pressure. Being hydrated is also very important for certain medications to work properly.

It’s a common problemIn one study, 31% of residents in a long-term care facility were dehydrated. In a related study, 48% of older adults who were admitted to the hospital after being treated in the emergency room had signs of dehydration in their lab tests.

Why do seniors get dehydrated?There are many factors that make seniors more likely to become dehydrated.

Common reasons include:

Being less sensitive to the feeling of being thirsty

Decreased ability to keep fluid levels in balance

Kidneys are less efficient, so urine has more water

Common medications (like those for blood pressure) flushing water from the body

Medications causing side effects like diarrhea or excessive sweating

How much water do seniors need?A useful rule of thumb for how much water to drink every day is to take one-third of the person’s body weight in pounds and drink that number of ounces of water. Continue Reading

What is a geriatrician?A geriatrician is a doctor who specializes in caring for people 65 and older. They’re doctors of internal medicine or family medicine who do an extra 1 or 2 years of training in areas related to elder care.

The additional training helps them to better care for conditions like memory loss, arthritis, osteoporosis, mobility, and Alzheimer’s disease.

What’s the difference between a geriatrician and regular doctorRegular doctors like internal or family medicine doctors are more likely to have a majority of patients in the 30 to 60 age range.

Because geriatricians see more older people, they are more familiar with issues that are more common to aging adults. They also have more experience with how older adult bodies respond to different treatments. Internal or family medicine doctors might have to make educated guesses based on their experience with younger patients.

It’s similar to how pediatricians specialize in caring for children. In a lifetime, someone could start with a pediatrician, change to an internal medicine doctor, and then switch to a geriatrician.

Should my older adult see a geriatrician?Older adults who have more health issues may want to see a geriatrician because they’ll most likely have more experience treating multiple health problems.

Geriatricians also tend to collect lots of information about patients’ lifestyles, community, family, and their entire medical history. This is more than what typical internal medicine doctors ask about.

Because they ask patients additional questions, geriatricians can dig deeper to find out if issues are actually caused by non-age related illness or injury rather than chalking it up to getting older.

Of course, if your older adult’s current doctor has plenty of experience with their health conditions and you’re happy with the care they provide, there’s no need to switch.

– Question –My mom has started shuffling and sliding her feet when she walks. I always remind her to pick up her feet, but she keeps ignoring me! It’s so annoying! Why does she refuse to walk normally?

– Answer –Asking your mom to pick up her feet and walk normally isn’t likely to work. Why? Because there’s probably something causing her to shuffle. To help her walk more normally (and safely!), the first step is to find the cause.

10 common reasons seniors shuffle when they walk:

Weak hips and leg muscles

Arthritis pain in joints

Loss of flexibility in feet making it hard to flex them normally

Decreased ability to maintain balance

Decreased vision making it hard to see

Fear because of a recent stumble or fall

Slow reaction time when unbalanced which increases fear of falling

Medication side effects

Worn or poorly-fitting shoes or slippers

Slippery floors

Serious medical conditions, like Parkinson’s or dementia, could also cause your mom to shuffle or walk unsteadily. To make sure her shuffling isn’t caused by a health condition or medication, it’s best to get a check-up from the doctor.

A shuffling walk increases senior fall riskIf your mom is shuffling, dragging, or generally not lifting her feet off the ground when walking, she’s at greater risk of falling.Continue Reading

Arthritis can make everyday tasks impossibleDid you know that almost half of adults 65 years old or older have arthritis? Arthritis pain and stiffness can make normal activities like buttoning a shirt, writing a note, turning on the light, or eating a meal very difficult or impossible. For an otherwise healthy older adult, these limitations can be extremely frustrating.

Seniors and caregivers regularly search, find or create arthritis aids and like us, are always alert for ways to improve quality of life as we age. Not all handy aids are expensive, specially-designed products. However, here are a few gadgets you might like to know about.

10 arthritis aids help seniors stay independentWe found 10 useful arthritis products that make activities of daily living easier for seniors. Being able to accomplish tasks independently boosts self-esteem and improves mood. Plus, there will be fewer things they’ll need your help with!

Swallowing problems are more common in seniorsSome older adults have trouble swallowing food or liquids. This serious condition is called dysphagia and could cause malnutrition, dehydration, or aspiration pneumonia. It can also make mealtime a scary experience for both you and your senior.

What is dysphagia?Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing and is pronounced dis-fay-gee-ah (hear the word here).

It can happen at any age, but is more common in older adults, especially those with acid reflux. It’s estimated that 15% of seniors and up to 68% of nursing home residents are affected by dysphagia.

Why you should be concerned about swallowing problemsDysphagia is important to know about because it can cause many serious health problems for seniors, including:

Aspiration pneumonia — a lung infection caused by food or liquid particles in the lungs and leading cause of hospitalization and death in nursing home residents

Signs that your senior could have dysphagiaHaving trouble swallowing once in a while, usually because of eating too fast or not chewing well, isn’t the same as showing signs of dysphagia. But if swallowing difficulty is happening frequently, it’s important to talk with a doctor.Continue Reading